[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 21, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1010-E1011]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO MORGAN CHU

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NANCY PELOSI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 20, 2003

  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Morgan Chu, who is 
being recognized by the American Jewish Committee at its 24th Annual 
Learned Hand Award Dinner on May 21, 2003. This award is named in 
memory of Judge Learned Hand, one of America's great jurists and 
humanitarians, and is being given to Morgan Chu for his ``outstanding 
leadership in the legal profession'' and his ``strong voice of 
understanding and good will.''
  Morgan earned an AB (1971), MA (1972), and PhD (1973) from UCLA, an 
MSL (1974) from Yale University and a JD (1976) from Harvard Law 
School, magna cum laude. He then clerked for Judge Charles Merrill of 
the U.S. Court of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit. In 1977, he began his 
career with the well known law firm of Irell & Manella, developing a 
reputation as one of the nation's top experts in intellectual property, 
becoming a partner and serving on the Irell & Manella executive 
committee for the past 18 years.
  In his first year at the firm, Morgan distinguished himself by 
serving as the lead counsel for Matel, Inc. in a patent infringement 
trial. With his victory in the complex case, he became known as an 
enterprising young trial attorney who knew how to handle the complex 
legal issues associated with technology. Since then, he has won many 
other landmark cases, including the first trial involving a patent of 
computer software. The jury invalidated a patent in favor of his 
client.
  The National Law Journal describes Morgan as a ``litigator of complex 
intellectual property, antitrust and first amendment cases . . . an 
innovator.'' The 2001 survey of company directors, law school deans, 
and lawyers by Corporate Board Member named him ``The Best Intellectual 
Property Lawyer in the Nation.''
  Throughout his career Morgan has been recognized for his 
extraordinary talent, skill and success in the field of law. In 1983, 
he was dubbed a ``new superstar,'' and since then he has continually 
been listed among the ten top trial lawyers, and the most influential 
lawyers in Los Angeles and the nation. He was named as one of the ``Top 
Players in High-Tech Intellectual Property,'' and in 1991, the 
California Law Business Journal chose him as a member of their Dream 
Team.
  Morgan was an Adjunct Professor of Law at UCLA and served as a judge 
pro tem. He has served on the Board of Directors of Public Counsel for 
many years and is currently a member of its Executive Committee. As 
part of his pro bono work, Morgan won the reversal of a first-degree 
murder conviction for an inmate on death row whose sentence and 
conviction had already been upheld by the Supreme Court. He is a 
remarkable man who has used his enormous talents to help his community.
  Morgan and his wife, Helen, reside in Los Angeles. Known for his 
penchant for bow ties, he says he wears them because, ``it is easier to 
lean down and smell the flowers along the

[[Page E1011]]

way.'' Despite all his accomplishments he is a down-to-earth guy, whose 
company is downright enjoyable.
  It is our great pleasure and honor to ask our colleagues to join us 
in paying tribute to our good friend, Morgan Chu, the worthy recipient 
of 2003's Learned Hand Award.

                          ____________________